Beer Prices v. Wine Prices

[TheRiddick]

Vic, I do not agree with your "This post doesn't" POV. Same way you framed the question of "why not..." I can also ask, Why do cigar smokers, in general, have no issue paying $15-20 PER CIGAR (and more in some cases) when they will also tell you that spending that same sum on a bottle of wine is stupid?

Since taste is subjective (and there is no argument on this point, just let me know what you think of cow tongue aspic), why do you simply assume that what is great beer to you simply MUST be great beer for everyone else? Isn't this snobbish and elitist point of view, the point of contention in your original post?

You still didn't answer my question as to what is a great bottle of wine to YOU?

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

Vic, I do not agree with your "This post doesn't" POV. Same way you framed the question of "why not..." I can also ask, Why do cigar smokers, in general, have no issue paying $15-20 PER CIGAR (and more in some cases) when they will also tell you that spending that same sum on a bottle of wine is stupid?

Since taste is subjective (and there is no argument on this point, just let me know what you think of cow tongue aspic), why do you simply assume that what is great beer to you simply MUST be great beer for everyone else? Isn't this snobbish and elitist point of view, the point of contention in your original post?

You still didn't answer my question as to what is a great bottle of wine to YOU?

Greg, I'm not ignoring you, it's just that what is great to me is not the point of my question.

You obviously work in the wine trade, but trust me my question is not some secret plot to replace wine with beer and destroy your industry It's an honest question that i'm curious about.

If you must know, a great wine to me is one I enjoy. Can I find one for $14.00 a bottle? Sure. But IN GENERAL, wine at that price point is a low end wine. Drinkable, okay, but world class? No. Are there diamonds in the rough? Sure, same as with anything else. But the diamonds in the rough are still not comparable to the best wines in the world, are they? If they were, what would possibly justify the prices places like Screaming Eagle charge for their wine? Yet people will not only willingly pay these prices, they'll step on grandma's head to do it.

Flip side of the coin. Beer for $14.00 a sixpack. IN GENERAL that is going to get you some mighty fine beer, probably a beer that is one of the best in the world in it's class. Yet people ***** and moan about it and I find that funny, a little sad, and don't understand it. Are there duds? Sure. But it's the flip side of the equation, the duds are FAR outnumbered by the great beers at that price point. And the duds are rarely truly awful beers, rather it's just that they are priced too high for what they are, they are still much better than most beer out there.

And before the Bud topic comes up again, comparing Bud to craft beer is like comparing Boones Farm to Screaming Eagle. I'm willing to bet that a helluva lot more boones farm is sold every year than Screaming Eagle. Does that make Boones Farm a better wine?

[TheRiddick]

Originally Posted by Resipsa

You obviously work in the wine trade, but trust me my question is not some secret plot to replace wine with beer and destroy your industry

And before the Bud topic comes up again, comparing Bud to craft beer is like comparing Boones Farm to Screaming Eagle. I'm willing to bet that a helluva lot more boones farm is sold every year than Screaming Eagle. Does that make Boones Farm a better wine?

You're kidding, right? Yeah, I am really worried that your questions will "destroy your industry"? My take on your POVs are based on you calling others snobs only because they prefer wine over beer. Like I said, that is Snobbery 101 (expecting and insisting that people like what you like).

Bud was used not to "compare" anything, apples to oranges like you stated, but simply to make it obvious that what is great to you is probably crap to someone else, and visa versa. I could have used Heineken or Beck's or any other beer that you may not consider "world class", the name or production quantity are inconsequential here. What is, though, is asking "Why is this guy buying bagels when I prefer this world class french baggette?" and acting like there should be no disagreement with your taste/spending preferences.

Bud was still a great example, IMO, to show that even when given a CHOICE and (lower) price of competing products, people PREFER to buy Bud, to THEM it is WORLD CLASS.

Thank you for confirming the obvious. Your deliberate omission of stating what constitutes great wine to YOU would probably result in a number of people pointing out it is not great wine to THEM (I am actually willing to bet on this). Exactly the point you refuse to acknowledge and the one, I am sure, you did foresee coming.

Anyway, thanks for pointing out to a number of us just how unrefined and "snobbish" our palates and buying preferences are.

I'll go and pick out a non-Cohiba to smoke on a deck, its nice outside... And while I am at it, pop open an $18 bottle of wine which I do consider great (friend of mine makes it). To edukat and rephine my pallet...

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

You're kidding, right?

Yes, he was. Note the smiley.

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

Yes, he was. Note the smiley.

Critical reading is a lost art Greg,

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

My take on your POVs are based on you calling others snobs only because they prefer wine over beer.

Please point out where Vic called anyone a snob. I missed it.

[VirtualSmitty]

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

I'll go and pick out a non-Cohiba to smoke on a deck, its nice outside... And while I am at it, pop open an $18 bottle of wine which I do consider great (friend of mine makes it). To edukat and rephine my pallet...

Good idea, maybe it will help you chill out

[BlackDog]

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

Bud was still a great example, IMO, to show that even when given a CHOICE and (lower) price of competing products, people PREFER to buy Bud, to THEM it is WORLD CLASS.

But how many Bud drinkers have ever actually educated their pallets, tried and given a real honest evaluation to well made craft beer, and consiously decided "nope, I prefer Bud?" I suspect relatively few. I think the comparison of Bud to high production wine or machine made cigars is apt. There are times when smoking a Muniemaker is fitting, as is drinking box wine. But very few educated pallets would insist that either of these are better than, say, AF Hemingways or a Fontodi Colli della Toscana. (Or a Famous Nic 3 or a Columbus Crest Cab, both of which are really a nice values and not a great deal more than the Muniemaker/box wine examples.)

My opinion is not that the Bud lovers really love Bud so much, it's that they don't know any better. In many ways it's no different than the "reverse snobbery" that occurs in the wine community or the cigar community.

[BigCat]

Originally Posted by BlackDog

But how many Bud drinkers have ever actually educated their pallets, tried and given a real honest evaluation to well made craft beer, and consiously decided "nope, I prefer Bud?" I suspect relatively few. I think the comparison of Bud to high production wine or machine made cigars is apt. There are times when smoking a Muniemaker is fitting, as is drinking box wine. But very few educated pallets would insist that either of these are better than, say, AF Hemingways or a Fontodi Colli della Toscana. (Or a Famous Nic 3 or a Columbus Crest Cab, both of which are really a nice values and not a great deal more than the Muniemaker/box wine examples.)

My opinion is not that the Bud lovers really love Bud so much, it's that they don't know any better. In many ways it's no different than the "reverse snobbery" that occurs in the wine community or the cigar community.

I'm an unashamed bud drinker who also appreciates really "good" beer as well. I regularly drink Bells, Goose Island, Founders, Dogfishhead, Guinness, etc. My "regular" beer is Sam Adams (I know its not a craft beer, but its a good mass production beer). For my birthday next week, my wife is taking me to a stout tasting at a local Irish pub because she knows how much I enjoy them. And I always have a few buds on hand. Its partly because I grew up watching my dad and uncles drink it and I have a soft spot for it. But I also find it refreshing from time to time. Its crisp, clean, reliable and affordable. I'm about to throw some steaks on the grill for dinner and this thread has made me thirsty for one. So I'm going to drink it. And I'm going to enjoy it. It won't be legendary, it won't be complex, but it will be satisfying, which is all I'm looking for on this one. So to all you haters.